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Three-year DACA, border security deal blocked in Senate

A temporary extension of a key Obama-era immigration program was blocked Tuesday in the Senate as lawmakers struggle to break a stalemate.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) tried to pass legislation that would extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for three years while providing $7.6 billion in border security funding.

Flake said his proposal would be a "stopgap" to try to give Congress more time to work on a long-term solution for immigrants in the country after three larger proposals were rejected by the Senate last month.

"To put it as bluntly as possible, this is simply not something we can ignore any longer. ... We cannot completely abdicate the responsibility of Congress," Flake said.